What to do with old stuff.

The first day covers, stamps and linen designed by your in-laws may well be marketable, or of interest to a museum with a relevant collection.

If the younger members of your family are interested, then hand the stuff over to them. If they are not, there is no point in keeping it for putative future generations of the family.

Photos of unknown people are only interesting if they clearly depict the fashions or manners of their day, and if you can find the archive or museum that wants them.

So you start by finding out if there are libraries, museums. archives or private collectors that want the good stuff.

At the same time, you dispose of the rubbish, and take the better, but uninteresting things to the local charity shops.

Allira mine had a choice, collect within 3 months or it goes to charity shop/sale/tip. They collected or decided they didn’t want it after all!

old linen is very collectable; check prices on ebay for an idea of the price
things like the painting i would suggest an auction house
first day covers there are internet sites that buy them or again ask an auction house, they might know someone locally.
btw if you have old photos you do not want i buy and sell old photos though keeping a lot for myself! i would be willing to buy old photos and same for anyone else who has some to spare

Suzieque66

Chuck it all away ...

Horror of Horrors...definitely not!

You sound like you have some real treasures there. Think very carefully before you bin anything.

At the very least talk to an auctioneer about valuation for some of those precious items.

Got as far as buying the Swedish Death Clearance book about a year ago and still haven't read it. It's another thing that I know I should do to make things easier for my son when the time comes. So much stuff to get rid of and still haven't felt able to take the last of my late DH's clothes to the charity shop let alone start on the rest of the house or the office or the garage.

Have just gone through this with an elderly neighbour I cared for, for over 13 years.

When she died we had to put her personal belongings into storage, as we only had a 2 week turnaround to get out of the property.

Over the past month we’ve emptied it but still have photos. She had no family left. The photos mean nothing to us.

We’ve decided to burn them, and put some of the ashes on her resting place.

I don’t want to throw them in the bin or give them to charity, and can’t think of any other way to dispose of them.

She also had done a lot in her life and we contacted some of her clubs to offer badges, photos of the past taken in those clubs, and CD’s and marker pens to her music and bingo clubs.

It’s a difficult situation to be in.

I would send most of that to auction

Box some items up.

Trawl around a town which has a few auction places.

Did that with some items I needed to dispose of][in a voluntary capacity].
Auction house did not want to know.
Was able to tell people.
Suggested they either try themselves somewhere, or could we have another idea please.

I gave it all away, before checking there was anything I wanted. I intend to get rid of my stuff before long as well. Ive had my use from it and if it helps other not so fortunate so much the better.

We've just had a good laugh at some old school reports. One son got D in everything and remarks that he made absolutely no effort. He is now a senior manager in his company.

Were the items related to the area she lived in would that be worth a thought …contacting someone local or maybe a local newspaper or someone she was familiar with it was she well known in her area just seems such a shame to not share her talent although I understand you don’t want to continue storing them

Lathyrus3 good idea. Thank you for the suggestion.

Would you consider contacting the Lisburn Museum and the Irish Linen Guild who safeguard the quality and history of Irish Linen making.

I think they might be very interested in your artefacts that relate directly to them. It would have to be a donation from you but if you were thinking of taking the items to a charity shop anywayI expect you wouldn’t mind.

BlueBelle

Oh please please don’t chuck them away as the first answering post suggests that’s awful the poor lady sounds very very talented with very artistic leanings if any have local interest (paintings etc) try a local museum maybe or art group
If her designs were used commercially maybe the company who commissioned them would like them
We are not talking about a bit of old tat your mother in law sounds very artistic and clever
Please don’t just chuck until you ve looked into alternatives

Yes, she was BlueBelle. And throughout her sometimes challenging life, she constantly reinvented herself to adapt to where she found herself.
Imagine, taking up badminton for the first time in your 60s, learning tap dancing (and competing in competitions) in your 70s, becoming a Toastmaster in your 80s. But all the while she maintained her arty side.
She lived on the other side of the world, so I only met her once, I'm sorry to say. It would seem to me a shame if the evidence of her accomplishments was lost.

Oh please please don’t chuck them away as the first answering post suggests that’s awful the poor lady sounds very very talented with very artistic leanings if any have local interest (paintings etc) try a local museum maybe or art group
If her designs were used commercially maybe the company who commissioned them would like them
We are not talking about a bit of old tat your mother in law sounds very artistic and clever
Please don’t just chuck until you ve looked into alternatives

I gave a box of items to our local museum maybe 10 years ago.
They liked that everything came from the same person.

It's worth a phone call.

As I have got older I have a real interest in family history which I didn’t have when I was younger.

I think that happens, Skydancer.

DotScot

Thanks for your responses. Most people seem to be in the 'get rid somehow' camp.
What if I decide to hang on to these things though 'for posterity'? After all, lots of people on programmes like the Antiques Roadshow seem to have held onto less significant items.
I guess a labelled box, one only, with the significance of the items labelled as well, stored with the others is as good a solution as any.

I agree. One of my children is very interested in our ancestors and the other one isn’t. As I have got older I have a real interest in family history which I didn’t have when I was younger.

Jaxjacky

If you do offer specific items to family put a timeframe on collection or you’ll still be used as a convenient storage facility.

😁
The answer was "not until ..... . Unless you move house and we'll come and help"

Just label the boxes clearly.

I am not in the "get rid of somehow" camp. These things are significant in the history of your family. How many of us (or of the general population) can say that they have in their possession items made or designed by their ancestors? Perhaps your immediate family have no interest in them, but with each generation the artefacts become more antique and more valuable, both in money and in illustrating the lives and work of people living in a bygone age.

Thanks for your responses. Most people seem to be in the 'get rid somehow' camp.
What if I decide to hang on to these things though 'for posterity'? After all, lots of people on programmes like the Antiques Roadshow seem to have held onto less significant items.
I guess a labelled box, one only, with the significance of the items labelled as well, stored with the others is as good a solution as any.

For me this is a timely reminder that my children will not be in the least interested in my treasure or the stuff I have valued all my life for no reason whatsoever.

I intend to leave hardly anything for them to sort or let them have it now- otherwise what's the point in keeping it?

You can't take this stuff with you...

Allira: 'Allocate a nice box for each child, fill it with their stuff and things they might want, label it then, when they're full, add no more.'
Yes I have done this already. The brownie badges, football team tops and hilarious 'News' jotters from their P1 days are in there. I know they don't want them now, but they will in time.
I also have one for me with my matric card(s), old passport, Youth Hostel card...did I mention I am definitely not a hoarder?

Sorry OP didn't answer your question. Auction house for the nicer things? Charity shop for the rest. I had a meal yesterday in a cafe which had loads of paintings on their walls. Would yours be suitable to offer to a similar place...or care home, hospital, doctors waiting room if you dont want to sell them.

If you do offer specific items to family put a timeframe on collection or you’ll still be used as a convenient storage facility.

I burned all my school reports and certificates. I put my DDs into a box each for them to dispose of as they wish.
My problem now is lots of photos from my parents and MILs houses. I must just sort them this winter into those I want to keep and then offer the rest to both extended families.so many people we dont know in them. I must just get on and do a box a day.